Mass. Closes Oyster Beds in Four Towns Following Illness Outbreak

"BOSTON -- The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) and the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game, Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) have closed 40 oyster beds in Plymouth Harbor, Kingston Bay, Duxbury Bay, Bluefish River and Back River in the towns of Plymouth, Kingston, Duxbury and Marshfield."



"The decision to close the beds is the result of an outbreak of the bacterium Vibrio parahaemolyticus (Vp) tied to oysters harvested from the area. It followed discussion between DPH, DMF and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Friday.

This is the first time a specific harvest area in Massachusetts has been implicated in a Vibrio outbreak. The bacterium causes gastroenteritis within hours of consumption."

The Quincy Patriot Ledger had the story August 31, 2013.

Source: Quincy Patriot Ledger, 09/02/2013